Tragic Death of Journalist Silas Apollo Deepens Concerns in Kenya’s Media Fraternity

The untimely death of journalist Silas Apollo has cast a somber pall over Kenya’s media industry—not just because of the circumstances of his passing, but due to the alarming frequency of recent losses among media professionals.

An autopsy conducted at City Mortuary confirmed that Apollo, who was working with The Nairobi Law Monthly at the time of his death, succumbed to blunt force trauma to the head and two fractured ribs, leading to extensive internal bleeding.

The 34-year-old journalist was fatally injured after being struck by a speeding motorcycle along Kiambu Road on the evening of Wednesday, April 9, 2025, as he was heading home. A graduate of Masinde Muliro University, Apollo was known for his dedication to public interest reporting and legal journalism.

What has shocked many even further are the procedural lapses that followed the accident. Initially booked as an unidentified person, his body remained unclaimed at City Mortuary for two days. His family only learned of his passing on Saturday, April 12, after a relative called his phone and a police officer at Kiambu Police Station answered.

Apollo reportedly had no identification documents on him at the time, which contributed to the delay in notifying next of kin. He was first rushed to St. Teresa’s Hospital, then transferred to Kiambu Level 6 Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Conflicting Reports, Ongoing Investigation

While police initially attributed his death to the motorcycle incident on Kiambu Road, confusion arose when another claim surfaced involving a separate incident on Valley Road. Matters became even more complicated when a driver in Kilimani reported hitting a dog on the same night. Authorities briefly detained the driver for further questioning, fueling speculation and concern.

Police are currently holding Apollo’s mobile phone as part of their investigation and have launched a search for the unidentified motorcyclist involved in the collision.

A Survivor of the Dusit D2 Terror Attack

Apollo’s death is all the more heartbreaking considering he had survived the 2019 Dusit D2 terror attack. During that ordeal, he and his cameraman, Dickson Onyango, hid for 12 tense hours inside a restroom to avoid gunfire. He had been at Riverside to interview a representative from the Commission for Revenue Allocation (CRA) when the attack unfolded—a traumatic experience that profoundly shaped his life and reporting career.

A Growing List of Losses in 2025

Apollo’s passing is the latest in a troubling series of journalist deaths in 2025. In just the first four months of the year, the Kenyan media industry has mourned the loss of:

• Nick Mudimba – CGTN journalist who collapsed at home on March 23.

• Fredrick Parsayo – KBC journalist found dead in Kinoo on March 21.

• Fofona Bangali – Former radio presenter found dead in Kisumu on March 28.

• Rasna Warah – Renowned columnist who succumbed to cancer on January 11.

• Leonard Mambo Mbotela – Legendary broadcaster who passed away while undergoing treatment on February 7.

As investigations into Apollo’s death continue, media colleagues, friends, and family are left grappling with grief—and a growing sense of unease about the safety and well-being of those in the industry.